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NBA YoungBoy pardoned by Trump: His legal troubles, explained

President Donald Trump has pardoned NBA YoungBoy.

The Louisiana-born rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, was serving a 23-month sentence for federal gun charges. Trump announced his pardon along with others, including former Chicago gang leader Larry Hoover, on May 28, a White House official confirmed to USA TODAY.

Gaulden, 25, also known as YoungBoy Never Broke Again, recently announced a 32-date national tour set to kick off in September, his first headlining tour.

USA TODAY has reached out to NBA YoungBoy's reps for comment.

 

NBA YoungBoy performs during Lil WeezyAna Fest at Champions Square on Aug. 25, 2018, in New Orleans.
NBA YoungBoy performs during Lil WeezyAna Fest at Champions Square on Aug. 25, 2018, in New Orleans. Erika Goldring, Getty Images

 

In November, Gaulden pleaded guilty to his involvement in a Utah pharmacy drug ring, including felony identity fraud and felony forgery charges that were reduced to misdemeanors. In that case, he avoided jail time and paid a $25,000 fine. But the following month, in a related federal gun case, the "Make No Sense" rapper was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison, five years of probation and a $200,000 fine.

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Police arrested Gaulden in Utah amid house arrest in April 2024. Inmate records reviewed by USA TODAY at the time showed the rapper was arrested in Cache County, Utah, on six charges, including unlawful activity, procuring or attempting to procure drugs, identity fraud, forgery, possession of controlled substances and possession of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person. He was later charged with the aforementioned federal crimes and taken into federal custody, KSL-TV reported.

NBA YoungBoy's legal troubles amid Trump pardon

The rapper has been involved in numerous criminal cases, including two attempted murder charges in 2016, when he was 17 years old. The charges were reduced to aggravated assault with a firearm, according to WAFB in Louisiana, which led to a suspended 10-year prison term plus probation. Other cases include a 2018 assault and kidnapping, a 2019 assault and battery lawsuit and a 2019 shooting in Miami.

Amid a 2020 federal drug and firearm case in Louisiana, Gaulden was arrested in March 2021 for alleged possession of a weapon in Los Angeles. He went to trial for the Los Angeles case in July 2022 and was acquitted of the charges, per court records. The rapper pleaded guilty to that federal gun charge in early 2024, court records reviewed by USA TODAY show.

YoungBoy began growing a fanbase in 2014 with his first mixtape, "Life Before Fame." His latest single, "Shot Callin," joins the list of viral hits like "Slime Examination," "Don't Try This at Home," "Outside Today" and "No Smoke."

Contributing: Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY; Amani Bayo, The Columbus Dispatch

Author: Taijuan Moorman USA TODAY

Source: USA Today

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